Gannon, a carpenter and joiner, repeatedly shouted "pikey", "pikey twats", "pikey bastards" and "pikey c****" at opposing fans throughout the game, the bench was told.

He also shouted: "F*** off you spastic mutants" in the direction of disabled supporters watching the game nearby, a witness said.

Gannon, 58, of Heol Meirion, Barmouth, north Wales, was found guilty of two counts of using abusive or insulting words within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused alarm or distress.

The court heard the offences were racially aggravated, despite Gannon's claims that the "monkey" gesture was a reference to "cavemen" and that he never abused Evra in French.

But the chairman of the bench, Ray Moore, said they deemed it to be a monkey gesture, adding that it was "clearly racist" and the bench also believed Gannon shouted a racist insult at Evra in French when he came towards the touchline.

"There is no doubt that this was a racist remark," Mr Moore said.

The bench imposed a four-year banning order which stops Gannon from attending Liverpool and England games and also bans him from Liverpool city centre four hours before and after a match.

Gannon was also fined a total £180 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £300.